LESSON TEN - LESSON TWELVE – 1968 FILM VIEWING

LESSON TEN – LESSON TWELVE - 1968 FILM VIEWING 1 - 3

The viewing of the film helps the students solidify our readings in their minds and reiterates to the students that the play that we are currently studying is poetry. Though many students will already have formed cogent images of Romeo, Juliet, et. al. in their minds, some will not have, and the film will help them form a context in which to do so. We are about two-thirds through the play, though many students have read ahead (some through to the end of the play). Those who have yet to finish the play will have increased motivation to do so. Film viewing uses the magnetism of “popular culture” to rivet these young men, who are very much attuned to popular culture. The viewing will also prepare the students for the dramatic element of the Culminating Activity.

The students will view the first/second/last 45-60 minutes of the 1968 Franco Zeffirelli film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. The students are entranced by the fighting, snigger at Tybalt's pants, and stare affixed when Juliet is on screen. It's exciting to see their reactions as they see the relationship dynamics unfold before them. The dance music of the Capulet party, especially the Moureska, is reminiscient of the Renaissance dance music that we listen to at the beginning of every class. Despite our class discussions, Juliet is younger than the student seem to have expected (and I think that Olivia Hussey was 14, not Juliet's 13, when she filmed this). The students appropriately find Lady Capulet icy and the Nurse "a blabbermouth."